Real Water

[Anonymous]

Has anyone had any success using real water (water falls/rivers) in their layouts? If so, please send info on how to accomplish it. Thanks. Bob.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone had any success using real water (water falls/rivers) in their layouts? If so, please send info on how to accomplish it. Thanks. Bob.

[dknelson]

There was a major article years ago about a guy who had a beautiful layout with real water. I think he also had a way to have boats follow paths in the water
Obviously waterproofing and supporting the weight of water were a big deal.
He made the point that he had to fully drain the water (and dry the area) after each session otherwise it gets foul and smelly. People who have these little "relaxation" waterfall thingies in their house know about this (modifying one of those might be the easiest way to add running water). Whether it attracts bugs I do not know but the sewer drains in my basement floor seem to.
Also most of us have the problem of too much humidity in the layout area and a large amount of water would just increase the problem. (and as a cat owner I do not need yet another reason for the cat to wander around the layout).
I think the general consensus would be that it can be done but are you really prepared for all the work and bother that goes with it?
So what would I do? I'd do the best job I could modeling a waterfall using static material and buy a "relaxation tape" of running water to create the illusion that it is real
Dave Nelson

[dknelson]

There was a major article years ago about a guy who had a beautiful layout with real water. I think he also had a way to have boats follow paths in the water
Obviously waterproofing and supporting the weight of water were a big deal.
He made the point that he had to fully drain the water (and dry the area) after each session otherwise it gets foul and smelly. People who have these little "relaxation" waterfall thingies in their house know about this (modifying one of those might be the easiest way to add running water). Whether it attracts bugs I do not know but the sewer drains in my basement floor seem to.
Also most of us have the problem of too much humidity in the layout area and a large amount of water would just increase the problem. (and as a cat owner I do not need yet another reason for the cat to wander around the layout).
I think the general consensus would be that it can be done but are you really prepared for all the work and bother that goes with it?
So what would I do? I'd do the best job I could modeling a waterfall using static material and buy a "relaxation tape" of running water to create the illusion that it is real
Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

What scale were you going to do this in? If you model in anything smaller than "G-gage" and of a garden railroad-type layout - out-of-doors presumably [?], then here is my OPINION.

Myself, I would stear clear of the use of real water. It has a way of detracting from the model railroad.

1. It's is unscaleable and therefore giving a model that rinky-dink appearence.

2. Like previously stated it has to BE in a COMPLETELY SEALD holding system or you are going to have a real problem.

3. The moisture could...nay...will reak havoc on the electrical and scenery by way of creating the modeler's nemesis "HUMIDITY".

To sum it up, don't bother with time and effort it takes to do it - it's just NOT worth it[:(!]

[Anonymous]

What scale were you going to do this in? If you model in anything smaller than "G-gage" and of a garden railroad-type layout - out-of-doors presumably [?], then here is my OPINION.

Myself, I would stear clear of the use of real water. It has a way of detracting from the model railroad.

1. It's is unscaleable and therefore giving a model that rinky-dink appearence.

2. Like previously stated it has to BE in a COMPLETELY SEALD holding system or you are going to have a real problem.

3. The moisture could...nay...will reak havoc on the electrical and scenery by way of creating the modeler's nemesis "HUMIDITY".

To sum it up, don't bother with time and effort it takes to do it - it's just NOT worth it[:(!]

[Anonymous]

I dont have my Model Railroading magazines (since I am at college), but I do recall a real water model railroad being in a article of one of the magazines since December...so look around and see if you can find someone that will let you borrow a copy of that article. Not sure how unformative the article is on exactly how to do it...I cant quite remember; though I do remember it looking really nice. Best of luck. My best suggestion for you would be to make like a 1'X1' with real water to make sure you can get it right before you even think about moving on to a serious layout. This I am sure will eliminate many tears that could be formed over destruction of the layout.

[Anonymous]

I dont have my Model Railroading magazines (since I am at college), but I do recall a real water model railroad being in a article of one of the magazines since December...so look around and see if you can find someone that will let you borrow a copy of that article. Not sure how unformative the article is on exactly how to do it...I cant quite remember; though I do remember it looking really nice. Best of luck. My best suggestion for you would be to make like a 1'X1' with real water to make sure you can get it right before you even think about moving on to a serious layout. This I am sure will eliminate many tears that could be formed over destruction of the layout.

[Anonymous]

Check the thread "Wet Idea" recently started (22 Aug) in the "Layouts and Layout Buiding' area of this forum.

[Anonymous]

Check the thread "Wet Idea" recently started (22 Aug) in the "Layouts and Layout Buiding' area of this forum.